Trip.com Group expands presence in Middle East with new regional office

Trip.com Group, a global online travel services provider, announced its strategic expansion in the Middle East, highlighted by its participation in this year’s Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. At a panel on multigenerational travel in the Middle East, Boon Sian Chai, managing director and vice president of international markets at Trip.com Group, discussed the company’s strategic approach to enhancing travel experiences for all age groups. He emphasized the significant trend toward family-centric travel, noting that data from Trip. com Group showed that familyoriented journeys increased from last year, accounting for 47 percent of all travel. This shift emphasizes the increasing need to focus on the complex travel requirements of families, which is particularly critical during peak travel seasons.

Chai also highlighted the success of Trip.com Group’s “Old Friends

Club,” as part of initiatives to enhance multigenerational travel. He said: “We are committed to enhancing travel experiences internationally. By integrating our international expertise with deep local insights, particularly in the Middle East, we aim to enrich the travel landscape.”

Additionally, Trip.com Group is harnessing state-of-the-art technology and forging strong partnerships to customize its comprehensive travel booking platform, ensuring it aligns with the unique requirements of Middle Eastern travelers. This includes providing services in regional languages and accommodating cultural nuances. The company observed a marked increase in travel interest to key destinations in the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with triple-digit growth in bookings in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2023.